Union Leaders: Fischer’s Proposed Wage Freeze Is ‘Unacceptable’

Union leaders responded Monday morning to Mayor Greg Fischer’s request that workers agree to a pay freeze in the next fiscal year, as Louisville tries to figure out how to plug a $35 million budget hole. They said the requested “true zero” wage increase is unacceptable, but they don’t blame the mayor for asking. The union leaders instead placed blame on the Metro Council members who voted against a tax increase last month that would have helped offset the shortfall that the administration says is driven by rising employee health care and pension costs. That decision leaves the city to find savings in its next budget. This year’s general fund is $626 million.